Mount Union Graduate Recipient of Associated Press Award

April 22, 2010

At the recent Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters 2006 Annual Convention in Columbus, Rachel Teron, a 2006 Mount Union College graduate, received second place for Best Feature Reporting in Small Market Radio for her entry 'The Story of Ryan Groves ' An Iraq War Veteran.'

Teron, the 2005-2006 program director for WRMU, first heard of the AP awards through Laura Vesco, a 2005 Mount Union graduate. Vesco had previously submitted work and received an AP award as well. 'She has been my mentor,' Teron said. 'She and Mark Bergmann, manager of WRMU - Mount Union's radio station, encouraged me to submit some of my work.'

Teron submitted two reports. One was on the Ohio governor's race because she had covered Democratic candidate Ted Strickland's speech when he came to Mount Union.

'I really felt that this was more of an award winning piece because I added a different angle by getting audience reactions. I also got Republican, Democrat and Independent feedback,' Teron said.

She also submitted her story on Ryan Groves into the 'Best Feature Reporting' category. 'I didn't expect anything honestly because I was a college student competing in a professional competition against experienced broadcasters,' Teron said.

Groves had previously attended Mount Union, but after the September 11th attacks, he enlisted in the Marine Corp. While serving in Iraq, he was hit by a rocket attack and lost his leg along with suffering other serious injuries.

Last November, Groves came back to Mount Union to share his story with students, faculty and community members. Teron interviewed him afterwards, included sound bites and wrote the story to be aired on WRMU. 'I was moved to tears by his powerful story and I thought others would be, too,' Teron said.

In May, Teron attended the AP award ceremony not knowing whether it had even received her submissions. 'When my name was called I was excited, surprised and most of all grateful for being recognized in the presence of so many wonderful journalists,' Teron said.

All entries from Ohio were judged by broadcasters in Minnesota. Judges comments said Teron's report was a 'very good complete story.'

'This award has set me apart from some college grads and put me on the same playing field as others,' Teron said. 'Since receiving it, I have had several internship offers from ABC's Good Morning America, Tribune Broadcasting Company and PBS's Washington Week.'

Teron has also had some of her reports used on WAKR, an Akron based radio station, during the Ray Horner show, a popular morning program. 'This is very rare for a college student to again get something done well enough for a talk show host to use her report in his program,' Bergmann said.

Teron is currently interning with PBS's Washington Week in Washington D.C. 'I hope that one day I can work in public broadcasting,' Teron said. The show airs every Friday night at 8 p.m. on Channel 45/49.